News New Gondola Transportation - Disney Skyliner -

[natatomic]

It looked great. The only thing I couldn't get out of my head as it went over Hourglass Lake was...
View attachment 415175

See, I just imagine the line snapping or a single gondola falling off the line, and then it sinking either everyone on board, because I don’t think there’s a way to open those doors in an emergency. Or at least not one that I’d be able to figure out if I was panicking from being seconds away from drowning.

 

[MisterPenguin]

An IG CM said they can load 10 people every 10 seconds, so one station's THC is 3,600
I don't think they're sending out 6 gondolas/minute on average, but that would be worth watching. That would also lower the capacity.

This may be a case of a front-end CM not having correct information, as rare as that may be!

From all the preliminary videos, cabins were not exiting every 10 seconds, but more like 11-12 seconds. Which means they can not possibly be loading every 10 seconds. But, they may have sped things up since then. I'll have to look at newer videos, or, time it myself in two days from now...

 

[drizgirl]

See, I just imagine the line snapping or a single gondola falling off the line, and then it sinking either everyone on board, because I don’t think there’s a way to open those doors in an emergency. Or at least not one that I’d be able to figure out if I was panicking from being seconds away from drowning.

I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be a way to open the monorail doors in use either.

You're welcome.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

From seeing Resort TV1's live stream yesterday, I am actually quite impressed with the Gondola system.

 

[Lift Blog]

However I overheard a CM saying the Pop Line is down for mechanical reasons and no ETA for when it will be back up.

Currently running but they aren’t loading passengers.

 

[wishiwere@wdw]

Let me say that I really like the ride experience, and I expect Disney to get these operational issues resolved.

In observing what stops the line, it appears that not-folded strollers may have problems fitting through the doors. I saw one instance of the line stopping when a parent couldn't get the stroller into the cabin, before reaching the end of the boarding platform.

The one-way trip between IG <> CBR seems to take around 13 minutes without delays. We waited about 10 minutes to board at IG. We waited about 20 minutes to board at CBR. So the round-trip ride took 40 minutes, and it should've taken 26. Thus, 9 delays took 14 minutes, or about 90 seconds per delay.

I was thinking about this very same thing. They could have easily made the entrance areas to the queue as wide as the door opening so that you’d know if you fit before getting to the load area. Kind of like the carryon baggage check at the airport? Some of these strollers are huge so it was bound to be an issue lol

Thanks for your insights!

 

[cosmicgirl]

Boarded at CBR about half an hour ago. The crowd was nothing compared to yesterday and the ride to Epcot was perfect. No stops and the spiel was working. IG is quiet, too.

 

[monothingie]

I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be a way to open the monorail doors in use either.

You're welcome.

Found one way to do it.

 

[lentesta]

This may be a case of a front-end CM not having correct information, as rare as that may be!

From all the preliminary videos, cabins were not exiting every 10 seconds, but more like 11-12 seconds. Which means they can not possibly be loading every 10 seconds. But, they may have sped things up since then. I'll have to look at newer videos, or, time it myself in two days from now...

We're timing and counting capacity today.

 

[joelkfla]

We're timing and counting capacity today.

I think the 90-second estimate for the ecv cabins is also a little optimistic. I saw the countdown starting at 97, and when it reached 0, it seemed like it was still 10 or 15 seconds before the cabins started moving out. The interval is probably close to 2 minutes.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Interesting point about the seats never being folded. Wonder why they needed folding seats at all?

It's a shame that there wasn't a way to handle Riviera, but I guess it's a small hotel so won't have a lot of ECVs, although I assume there will be some from CBR.

I wonder if they will start pulling people out of line to use the wheelchair cabins when there aren't wheelchairs/ECVs waiting?

That sounds odd to me too. I would think folding the seats would be helpful for folks with ECVs and large strollers. I assumed that's why the seats were like that.

 

[MrPromey]

I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be a way to open the monorail doors in use either.

You're welcome.

Monorail cabins offer pop-out windows and emergency roof access.

 

[joelkfla]

That sounds odd to me too. I would think folding the seats would be helpful for folks with ECVs and large strollers. I assumed that's why the seats were like that.

I was told the seats could be folded by maintenance. Maybe so they can work on things under the seats, like the interior lights.

It could also be a standard design feature to facilitate carrying freight on mountain installations.

 

[brb1006]

I'm having a feeling the Epcot station might be busy this evening/tonight for the final showing of ROE.

 

[drizgirl]

Monorail cabins offer pop-out windows and emergency roof access.

And occasionally an open door during transit.

 

[llrain]

I'm having a feeling the Epcot station might be busy this evening/tonight for the final showing of ROE.

Last night was pretty scary back there..I think if the line went straight instead of winding around at the side of then station it would have easily reached that 1st quiet pool at the beach club when illuminations dumped out..epcot or illuminations was not that crowded last night either

 

[Rob562]

I think the 90-second estimate for the ecv cabins is also a little optimistic. I saw the countdown starting at 97, and when it reached 0, it seemed like it was still 10 or 15 seconds before the cabins started moving out. The interval is probably close to 2 minutes.

If normal dispatch is every 11 seconds, and it's currently every 15th cabin routed to the handicap spur, as @Lift Blog said, that would be one handicap cabin every 165 seconds (which is 2.75 minutes).

Presumably the 97 countdown is the time CMs have to ready the cabin for dispatch toward Load. That way the system has it moved and ready in place to take the spot of the next incoming handicap cabin. Add that movement and buffer time to the 97 seconds and you get close to the overall 165 second handicap dispatch time.

-Rob

 

[danlb_2000]

I was told the seats could be folded by maintenance. Maybe so they can work on things under the seats, like the interior lights.

It could also be a standard design feature to facilitate carrying freight on mountain installations.

I would also make it easier to clean.

 

[Minthorne]

Quick observations

1. I’m at the Tune In Lounge with Julie and Tony

2. The skyliner lives up to all expectations.
3. the direction of the the wind today was the difference between comfortable and down right cool.
4. I was alone in a gondola for one leg and there was some wind. The gondola swayed a bit but nothing that bothered this acrophobic guy.
5. Lunch just arrived

6. Dolphin to DHS the boat or walking ifs faster than going for skyliner.

 

[beefog]

Funny thing is in January it's going to be cold AH... can't wait for the complaining from the snowbirds. People... it does get cold in Florida and a stiff 10 to 15 mph breeze will cut right through you. Remember.. we have a wet cold.... brrrrrrrrrrrrr...

So you are saying the windows do not close?